The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-26
SYSTEMATIC ROBBERY.
HOW TWO NEGROES PLUNDERED
A WAREHOUSE.

Regular Visits Paid to a Tobacco
Storeroom and Wholesale Lots
Taken Away - How the Thieves
Were Run Down and Caught.
Benjamin Young and Alfred Walker
tcoloreCD, were sent to Jail yesterday on a
commitment from Justice Warning Russell 5
court. charging them with burglary, the
offense being stealing tobacco from Ellis,
Young & Co MeSsrs. Ellis, Young & Co.
have an Office in the City Exchange on the
east side In the basement OF the Exchange
they have a warehouse for the storage Of to-
bacco. but seldom have a very large stock on
hand. The warehouse has two approaches,
but both are open, and as the electric
hight dispeIlSes a bright radiance round
about, they felt no apprchensions of trouble
from thieves As but a small stock was
kept on hand. il was not examined as care
fully as II would have been had there been
& large amount Storel
Last THURSDAY the boxes in the warehouse
were counted. hut ctiey failed TO tally with
the hooks The firm had another count
made bat the result was the same, a heavy
shortage IN the number Of boxes being dis
covered TIE doc. and window were care
fully examined hut the only trace found
was the fact that the lock of the
door bore soma marks of hav-
ing been t2mpered with. Mr..
Young OF tie firm, took entire charge OF
the matter. ana undertook to catch the
thief or thieves. He called upon Detective
Wetherhorn, explained the matter to him
and left, confident that the bold purloners
Of his choice tobacco would soon be in lin
DO. Mr.. Wetherhorn went TO work, but tn"
trail was faint Nothing was said of the
robbery, it being kept so very quiet that
even the firms porter suspected nothing OF
the kind The detective soon got
on track and satisfied himself
that he was on the right road, but ne lacked
vet the necessary evidence to hold his pris
oncr if arrested. After the discovery of the
robbery the firm took the precaution OF
counting the boxes every night and morn
ing. Nothing wrong was observed till yes
terday morning, when on making the usual
count four more boxe, were missing. Mr.
Young then resolved on war, and united
his efforts with Mr.. Wetherhorn to hunt
the rascals down. The clues obtained were
followed out, more and fresh traces of the
parties implicated secured and by
O'Clock in the afternoon the shrewd detec
tive and his active co-laborer had the salts
faction of alTesting two of the thieves, and
had the name OF the buyer of the stolen
goods in their possession. They secured
also the return of portion Of the tobacco
and information regarding where the bal
ance was stored.
When examined the negroes charged
each other with the burglary, each admit
ting he had received the tobacco from the
other and that the other fellow entered the
warehouse. When the place was
found where the tobacco was sup
posed to be, the proprietor disclaimed
all knowledge of it. A search warrant was
procured and some tobacco was brought to
light that Mr.. Young identified as theirs.
All their plug tobaccos were labeled, or
rather had their trade mark or name on
labels which We're pasted on the plugs. On
a close examination il was seen where these
tags or pastors had been torn off, the mark
or outline left on the tobacco being quite
plainly seen. The evidence was sufficient,
and the tobacco was taken to Justice Rus
sells Office
BENZ. Young was the warehouse man, and
it is supposed in this way he became famil-
lar with the amount OF tobacco ON hand and
made his hauls accordingly. Walker had
formerly been drayman for the house. but
was discharged some time ago. 1t is thought
they had one or more confolerates, and that
the raids were made by three or more at a
time, one standing guard while the Others
entered the room.